Ilia Topuria is the current UFC lightweight champion. Photo: Instagram / UFC
Victorious in UFC 317, Ilia Topuria not only did he win the lightweight belt (up to 70,3 kg), but he also became the first placed in the Ultimate pound-for-pound ranking. Increasingly confident in his abilities, the athlete remains undefeated and promises to finish all the opponents that the officials put in front of him in the octagon.
Responsible for defeating Charles of the Bronx at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (USA). The Spanish-Georgian lived up to his promise and brutally knocked out the Brazilian in the first round.
In the first few seconds of the fight, Topuria managed to open a cut on Do Bronx's face, which led the Brazilian to try to take him down, but without success. On top, the Spaniard managed to land some good blows and despite escaping the former champion's submission attempt, he opted to let the fight remain standing due to the São Paulo native's expression of pain.
“Everyone around me knew I could do it. Everyone knew that. I just came to get my belt. I already wore it in training sessions. I know how hard I work. I know what I can do in sparring. I know how good I am. I know that no one can match my skill level inside the octagon. I used to prove that I am the best fighter in the world. I was very close to getting a dominant position. He put up a good fight, but I saw on his face that he was hurt and I decided to get up and finish the fight,” Topuria said in a post-fight press conference.
With his triumph, Topuria became the first lightweight fighter to knock out Do Bronx. At 28 years old, the fighter has achieved 17 victories in his career and now intends to defend his belt in December, against his great rival. Paddy Pimblett.
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